Truss-pad.



No. 655,206. Patented Aug. 7, I900. A. J. DAVIDSON.

I TRUSS PAD. (Application filed Mar. 8, 19001- (llo Model.)

FIGJ.

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AUSTIN J. nAv1nsoN,"on noUeLA's CITY, CALIFORNIA.

TRUSS-PAD.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 655,206, dated August '7, 1900.

' Application filed March 8,1900: Serial No. 7,845. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, AUSTIN J. Davinson, a citizen of the United States, residing at Doug'- las City, in the county of Trinity and State of California, have invented a certain new and useful Truss-Pad, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to truss-pads for the retention of hernia. Truss-pads for the purpose specified are ordinarily oval in shape,

and when they become worn they act to press.

the rupture open, thereby producing more or less discomfort.

Oneobject of the present invention is to provide a pad in which the'pressure is exerted bodying certain novel features and details of construction, ashereinafter fully set forth,

illustrated in the drawings, and incorporated in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the pad per se. Fig.

2 is a similar view of the pad-holder. Fig. 3

is a view in elevation of the pad-holder looking toward the opposite side from that shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a central cross-section through the pad and holder, showing also the means for attaching the holding-strap. Fig.

5 is a perspective view of the buckle which connects the strap and pad-holder. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the buckle-frame. Fig. 7 is a similarview of the buckle tongue or clasp.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate'corresponding parts in all the figures ofthe drawings.

The truss-pad contemplated in this invention consists of a hollow ring or annulus 1, which is inflated or filled with air. The pad is formed of soft rubber of any desired thickness, and after being inflated is sealed so as to permanently retain the air'therein. The pad is lined or covered upon that side which bears'against the body with a piece of textile material 2, having a fibrous or fleecy surface which will be agreeable to the skin and avoid irritation. The formation of the pad in annular shape leaves a central opening 3, which extends transversely through the pad. In this way pressure is brought to bear around the point of rupture and not directly into the rupture, as is the case where the pad has a continuous flat or rounded surface.

In connection with the pad 1 I employ apadholder 4, which is preferably formed of thin sheet metal and pressed into shape to provide a central hollow boss or projection 5, closed at its end, as shown at 6. In pressing the holder into shape a surrounding rim or flange 7 is also provided, and the device as a whole 'is thus formed to resemble a cup'with a central projection which 'enters the opening in the center of the pad, while the outer flange or rim of the cup embraces and extends around the outer edge of the pad, sothatthe pad'is firmly seated in the cup-shaped holder and properly backed by the holder at all points. The pad is preferably secured within the cup-shaped holder by cementation or in any other desired manner. The back of the holder is partially closed by a disk-shaped plate 8, secured in anyconvenient manner thereto and provided with a central opening 9. This plate forms an inwardly-extending annular flange with and beneath which the hook hereinafter described engages. The plate 8 is also provided at intervals with studs 10 with or without heads 11, said studs being intended to receive buckles attached to a suitable strap 12, by means of which the truss pad and holder are secured to the body.

The buckle comprises a frame 13 approximating a triangle in form and having one end bent or recurved to form a hook 1 1, the body of the buckle being further provided .with a keyhole-slot 15, designed to receive any one of the studs 10. The buckle-frame is also provided with opposite extensions 16,

provided in their extremities withnotches 17, forming fulcrum steps for the tongue or clasp of the buckle, which is indicated at 18. This which are bent inward toward each otherand n ep de p is P e b y. t i gu a sin form'and has one edge bent at an angle a 'nd providedwith teeth 19 to engage the strap 12, which passesbene'ath the buckle-tongue and also beneath thebent portions 16 of theb'u'ckle of the buckle-frame in the operation-of as-,

sembling theltwo parts of thebuckle'. This provides a pivotal connection between the buckle-frame and buckle-tongue without the useof pins or'pivots as such Furtheflthe buckle-frame is preferably formed ofsprin'g. material, and when the teeth of the clasp or? tongue are in'engagenient'with the strap the bent portions 1160f thebu'ckle-f-rameact to{ force the teeth'wi-th eonsiderablepressure into Q buckle-frame.

the material of the ,strap12, so that it is inrpossible for the strap to ,beco'me'disengaged i from the buckle,

When the buckle'is. attached to the padi holder, thefhook 14 passes .into theopening 9 01? the holderand engages the inner edge of I the plate 8. At the same time the stud 10; passes into engagement with the slot 1-5 of the f 'Ihelhead 11-0f thestud passes 2 I through theqenlarged portion of "the keyholeand sustaining the pad in slot 15, and as linear strain is brought upon 5 the strap the head 11 of the stud engages un+ derthe buckle-frame and prevents any l-ia-,; bil-ityyof the strap becoming detached from; the pad-holder. The strap may be of; any suitable length to pass around a given portion of the body and is provided at its ends or other suitable points with buckles, such as that described, .for engaging the holder: proper positiom upon thebody. V i

Other means-than that above described may bere'mployed for attaching the padtothebody I of the wearer, and I therefore do not desire to Q be limited to theexact details of construe-I tion sh-ownyand described, but reserve the, right to change, modify, or vary the construe- 1 tion within the scope of this invention. Havingthusdescribed the invention, what isclaimed-as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, lis- 1. fEllhercombination with a hollow'annular i Witnesses:

truss-pad having a central opening extending i herethr u h p:sha ed ,h r having a central imperforate knob or boss which fits the central opeiiin g inthe pad, siibstantially as described; 1

"' 21;"Th'e combination with a truss-pad'havin g ce tral pp ni e he ethro g of a c pshaped holder therefor having a central opening, and a hollow inwardly-projecting knob or boss extending across the opening in the holder and adapted to engage the central opening of the pad,substantially as described.

3. The combinationwith an open-center truss-pad, of a cup-shaped holder therefor Zhavin'g a central opening, headed studs arranged ina circle around said opening, and a strap provided with a terminal'hook to en.- gage saidopening, vthe hook having a slot to receive one of the :stuads,js u bstantially as de- .scribed. 7,. I I

4. The combination with a hollow annular truss-pad having a central opening extending Ith-erethrough, of acup-sh-aped ,h'old'er, a plate at the back thereof provided with .acem tral unobstructed opening,and studs'disposed in :a circle around said opening, in the plate, substantially as and-for the purpose specified.

The combination with a hollow annular truss-pad having a central opening extending therethrough, of a cup-shaped holder havin-ga hollow central boss extending across said opening in the holder :and fit-ting the opening in the pad, and a-centrallyrapertured plate at the back of .the holder forming an inwardly-"extendi-ngannular flange, the inner edge of which isleft free and unobstructed; substantially as specified.

. 6. A holderfortruss pads comprisingacupshaped body having an annular groo ve' forming a-de'pressed seat for the pad, :a hollow boss extending across the space :encircled by the seat, and a plate fastened to the backof the holder and provided with 'an' unobstructed opening and forming an inwardly-extending flange the edge of which is left free, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AUSTIN J. DAVIDSON.

MART Fosrnn, WM. FRANGK. 

